Formation of buckminsterfullerene (C60) in interstellar space

Details Formation of buckminsterfullerene (C60) in interstellar space Formation of buckminsterfullerene (C60) in interstellar space

2011-11-03

arxiv.org/abs/1111.0839v3

Proceedings of the National Academy of Science of the United States, January 10, 2012 vol. 109 no. 2 401-406

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysics

Galaxy Astrophysics

22 pages, 4 figures, 3 sup. figures, 1 sup. video

Scientific paper

10.1073/pnas.1114207108

Buckminsterfullerene (C60) was recently confirmed to be the largest molecule identified in space. However, it remains unclear how, and where this molecule is formed. It is generally believed that C60 is formed from the build up of small carbonaceous compounds, in the hot and dense envelopes of evolved stars. Analyzing infrared observations, obtained by Spitzer and Herschel, we found that C60 is efficiently formed in the tenuous and cold environment of an interstellar cloud illuminated by strong ultraviolet (UV) radiation fields. This implies that another formation pathway, efficient at low densities, must exist. Based on recent laboratory and theoretical studies, we argue that Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons are converted into graphene, and subsequently C60, under UV irradiation from massive stars. This shows that alternative - top-down - routes are key to understanding the organic inventory in space.

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